Blackburn 1 - Aston Villa 1: I'll unleash my pet Charles N'Zogbia

It has been frustrating for him that he couldn’t show what he can do. But now he can

Stiliyan Petrov

N’Zogbia, 25, is showing signs of the form that convinced boss Alex McLeish to spend £9.5m to buy him from Wigan last summer.

The Frenchman was a Villa Park baddie last month when he claimed on Twitter that he had never been so unhappy playing football.

A miserable N’Zogbia turned to the social networking site to vent his frustrations after being dragged off during Villa’s defeat at Newcastle last month.

McLeish was furious – and it looked as if the winger’s Villa Park days were numbered.

But he enjoyed himself at Ewood Park as he bagged his second goal in claret and blue – and Villa will be wondering how they only left with a point.

David Dunn’s late equaliser for Blackburn means McLeish’s side may need some more big performances from N’Zogbia to avoid a relegation scrap.

And Petrov is sure the wing wizard can deliver.

The Bulgarian said: “He is motivated to show what he’s all about.

“He went through a tough period. Now he has started to get back into position and has scored a goal, which is good for us.

“We know what kind of lad he is. It has been frustrating for him that he couldn’t show what he can do. But now he can.”

Villa are eight points clear of the drop zone with 11 games left, but could yet be dragged into a scrap for survival.

Darren Bent is out for the rest of the season, Richard Dunne is only likely to return from a shoulder problem for Villa’s final two games and Robbie Keane has returned to the United States after ending his stint on loan from LA Galaxy.

And so McLeish has called on N’Zogbia and Stephen Ireland, who shone after regaining his place behind the front man following Keane’s departure, to step up.

He said: “We lost Robbie Keane and he was a goalscorer and could link midfield to attack.

“Now Charles and Stevie have to score goals.”

N’Zogbia showed his finishing qualities as he thundered in the opener after 24 minutes.

Spanish centre-back Carlos Cuellar somehow found himself out on the wing and he eased past Morten Gamst Pedersen before playing in the Frenchman, who fired into the roof of the net.

It meant Blackburn's search for a first clean sheet since April continued, although keeper Paul Robinson made superb stops to deny N’Zogbia, Ireland and Gabby Agbonlahor.

Vastly improved after a woeful first half, Rovers earned a point when substitute Dunn headed in Bradley Orr’s cross in the 85th minute.

With fans protesting yet again before the game against Venky’s ownership, things are far from rosy at Ewood Park.

Battling displays like their second-half showing are helping Kean win some fans over, but he knows they cannot afford many more sloppy starts like this – particularly with some big matches ahead.

Trips to fellow strugglers Wolves and Bolton follow with a tricky home game against Sunderland in between. Kean said: “I would agree that we look at the fixtures coming up now and think it’s about time that we put some points on the board.

“If we play like we did in the second half, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t. If we play like we did in the first half, then we are going to struggle.”